Blindspott

Bio

May 29th will see the release of the second full-length album 'End The Silence' from West Auckland’s finest metal advocates, Blindspott.

This record marks numerous departures for the band that has evolved considerably since they burst onto the local music scene in 2002 with their self-titled debut.

Blindspott’s grassroots fan-base was such that that their first album debuted at number one in the New Zealand charts. It was an album that spawned multiple hits including the singles 'Phlex', 'Nil by Mouth', 'Room to Breathe' and 'S.U.I.T'. It was a shot in the arm for the country’s metal scene, and provided the impetus and confidence that has subsequently lead to the genre now thriving. The impact the band had on the otherwise arid scene spotlighted them for bigger things. They went onto major league success throughout South-east Asia, playing to crowds as big as 70,000 in Indonesia.

But after the hype, comes the notoriously difficult second album. The follow up to such a high profile album can be daunting for all involved. The process for the group since this giddy rise to fame has been considered and they have employed some new ways of thinking and working in preparation for an album they regard as significant.

They cite the method of recording, to the sound itself, a new line-up and a more mature outlook as the defining features of their latest efforts. Despite feeling thrilled with their latest offering, the work has not been produced without the appropriate blood sweat and tears.

Shelton Woolright (drummer) is unequivocal when he states “It was pretty much the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. We didn’t know what to expect. We didn’t expect to get out of New Zealand, you know we didn’t even expect to get out of West Auckland!”

Originally the band was bracketed in the nu-metal movement. They always felt this was a consequence of music trends catching up with them, rather than the other way around. “We just got pipped by everybody,” reflects Woolright. We were playing 'Nil by Mouth' when we were 18 or 19. So that was 1998, and that was way before Linkin Park success. We only got noticed because that genre was starting to build overseas. So it was inevitable that we felt we didn’t get respect for what we were doing at that stage.”

Music has moved on since then, and due to their experiences, so have Blindspott. For the group to move forward and progress, some tough creative decisions had to be made. A shedding of skins and members seemed inevitable to take the band to the next place in their musical development.

They no longer feature a DJ in their ranks, instead heralding a two-guitar attack. And gone are the hip-hop beats that were synonymous with nu-metal. These changes, says Woolright, “Were not a deliberate move, rather a natural maturation, and the influence of our Swedish producers, Pelle Henrickson and Eskil Lovestrom.”

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. And with 'End The Silence' Blindspott have baked a good one indeed. Heavy in a way Blindspott only hinted at, this is unashamedly metal, with no need of a prefix.

“This album is just a metal album,” says Woolright. “It doesn’t really fit into a genre, like the whole ‘emo’ sound that’s around now. This will be an album you’ll be able to put on years later and it’ll still be refreshing and solid.”

Along with Woolright, vocalist Damian Alexander and guitarist Marcus Powell are the Blindspott veterans. They’re joined on 'End The Silence' by new bassist Dave McDermott (who replaces Gareth Fleming), and guitarist Brandon Reihana. McDermott had worked for the band as a tech while Reihana first toured with the group as substitute bassist when they went to Japan in 2004.

This rejuvenated Blindspott approached the studio with a new enthusiasm when it came to recording 'End The Silence'. This was challenged but not dented by the working methods of Henrickson and Lovestrom. The Nordic dup had have previously worked with Scandinavian acts Cult of Luna, The Refused and Americans Poison the Well. The production pair pushed the band, forcing them into uncomfortable situations, making them interrogate the way they approached writing and recording. It was both a testing and rewarding time.

Woolright recalls “This time we were working with full on international professionals. There were things like diets for Damian, and they had me going for runs and stuff. They just kind of picked the shit out of us, and ripped us and the songs apart. The studio was really quite full on. You’d be drained by the end of each day.”

Despite the rigors, all of the group felt ready to be taken apart and built back up to guarantee the best possible work. “It was just to get the best out of us,” says Reihana. “They knew how to do it, they were really good at relating to people.”

“It opened our minds a lot,” says McDermott of working with Henrickson and Lovestrom. “They played us a lot of music we’d never listened to, and showed us we could use these timeless ideas. That was their whole thing - to make this album timeless.”

The band are in complete agreement that they made a great decision. “They were amazing, we couldn’t have asked for anyone better,” concludes Woolright.

Certainly the hard work has paid off. 'End The Silence' is an intensely heavy experience, both in terms of pure metal carnage, but also emotionally. Alexander’s lyrics reflect extremely personal themes, from the birth of his child Charlotte, to the wreckage of failed relationships. Overriding everything though is a relentlessly optimistic sentiment. Overcoming adversity, rising above the hardship to prevail.

Alexander is philosophical and focused about his material. “There’re a lot of trends now in music, wearing makeup and stuff. I think there comes a point that music has to stop being about fashion and remain about music.”

No question that Blindspott are resolutely all about the music. And about the fans. As Woolright says, “It’s been three years since the first album, and our fans are still here with us, waiting impatiently for 'End The Silence'!”

“We aren’t rock stars,” says McDermott of Blindspott’s relationship with their fans. “We’re just a bunch of regular dudes. We hang out with our fans. Some people seem to get a bit of a big head in New Zealand if they go double platinum, but we’re just the same as we used to be.”

With 'End The Silence' there will undoubtedly be new fans to hang out with. But this is all just a matter of destiny, ponder the band. “It was natural progression,” states Alexander. “It was going to happen no matter what, the way we are now.”

Help me, where are Blindspott?!Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:07 amHey all

Blindspott, one of the finds of my young musical career to date without a doubt! Does anybody have any info on new music from the band, after 'End the Silence'? That and the 1st album are unreal, I need more! Also a website, 'coz the link on here doeasn't work.

Also, if the band actual read this, Don't suppose there's any chance of a date or 2 in the UK? No harm in asking!

There songsPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 8:10 amBlindspott has a wide range of really cool songs! There music has a good rythem to it and i like it. On 1-10 id give there band a 9. Tell me what you think of them.

Blindspott Tearing Through SE AsiaPosted: Tue Aug 26, 2003 7:40 pmBlindspott's first single Nil By Mouth has topped MTV Indonesia's charts, hitting #1 on Indonesia's premiere Top 40 radio station and holding firm as the most requested video on MTV for two months running.

Their self-titled debut album has entered the Indonesian internal record company charts at No2. Following on from their success in Indonesia, Blindspott are planning to release their album across South East Asia and tour through Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand and South Korea. Meanwhile in New Zealand the Blindspott album has reached double platinum status and the remix single of Phlex has just gone gold.

Blindspott Rock IndonesiaPosted: Wed Aug 20, 2003 8:22 amScreaming fans, A near riot at a MTV gig, Personal bodyguards. It's all in a day‚s work for New Zealand's double platinum artists Blindspott.

MTV PARTY

To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of MTV, MTV Sky (radio) and MTV Trax (Magazine) in Indonesia, MTV threw a massive party at the Panahan Stadium Senayan in Jakarta on Saturday July 19th. The only international band performing at the day long concert was Blindspott who headlined!! Over 30,000 turned up and the backstage fence was on the verge of being pushed down due to thousands outside! By the time Blindspott arrived (flanked by security guards and military police) to perform the stadium was to capacity of over 45,000 people. They walked onto stage to the crowd chanting 'BLINDSPOTT...BLINDSPOTT....BLINDSPOTT'

Thanks to the massive support of MTV. 'Nil By Mouth'‚ has been the NUMBER ONE most requested video on MTV for the last 2 months and reached NUMBER ONE on MTV Sky for 2 consecutive weeks.

CLEAR TOP 10

The MTV programme Clear Top 10 asked Blindspott to perform 3 songs acoustically for their series Ngamen. Blindspott are the first international band to do this programme (the next will be Linkin Park). They performed 'Nil By Mouth' 'Room To Breathe' and 'Phlex' acoustically at the Kemang Skate Park in Jakarta to a crowd of ecstatic fans who sang every word to every song!!!

CROWDED IN BALI

As part of the MTV week long special on Blindspott (to be screened w/c 17th August in Indonesia) the band performed to maximum capacity crowd at the Hard Rock Café in Bali on July 23rd. The night was ended with a presentation from Blindspott to Hard Rock Café of a signed Dickies shirt from the 'Room To Breathe' video that will soon be joining the many famous rock memorabilia on the walls of the Café.

AUSTRALIA

In support of the Australian release of their debut album, Blindspott played some shows in Sydney and Melbourne on their way home from Asia. They performed with Superheist in Sydney and with Full Scale in Melbourne. The band also did some high profile promotion with the likes of Kerrang! Magazine and the Austereo Music Network.

Home for just 2 weeks and to celebrate their GOLD SINGLE for the song 'Phlex'‚ Blindspott are returning to South East Asia for an extensive promo tour. They will travel to the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand and will be performing at the Indonesian music festival SOUNDRENALIN.

Blindspott NewsPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2003 7:56 amBlindspott are planning a New Zealand tour currently - once dates are confirmed we will have them up on the muzic.net.nz gig guide and on the Blindspott artist page.

Blindspott are also in the process of filming a video for their next single 'Blank', just before they head back to South East Asia.

And the best news for all you Blindspott fans - Blindspott have been nominated for Best Group in the Juice TV Music Awards - to vote for them visit the Juice TV site at http://www.juicetv.com/ ot text 2e to 288.

- 'Nil By Mouth' has topped the Indonesian charts, and has entered the Oz Top 40 charts at #1! The debut album is #2 on the Indonesian charts as well. 'Nil By Mouth' is the most requested video on MTV Indonesia (2 months running).

RE: Blindspott NewsPosted: Tue Jul 22, 2003 9:10 pmblindspott did win the zephyrs comp!!!
also blindspott have just started their tour in asia! and australia their album has already sold 15,000 copies!!! and nil by mouth is very popular on the radiostations and mtv a big songrats to blindspott!

- All the latest pics
- All the latest news on the band
- Downloadable album samplers
- Band profiles and heaps more....

Vote For Blindspott:

Do you want Blindspott to do a FREE gig at your place? $5,000 in airfares? 100 (EMI) CDs of your choice or a Panasonic video camera?

If so, go to http://www.thezephyrs.co.nz/ and vote for Blindspott!

If Blindspott wins the competition to play at your place, everyone wins because what we will do is launch a 'secret website' where you can see heaps of behind the scenes footages, exclusive pictures, access exclusive audio and get a peak at the chance to purchase the brand new line of merch at a huge discount!!

Limited Edition Album (NZ Only):

For New Zealand Month in May (NZ Only), Blindspott is releasing a Limited Edition Bonus Disc with the album, containing remixes by Che Fu, DLT and the Dubious Brothers, never before international new Nil By Mouth video plus others, and on road footage. This is a Limited Edition Release, so if you want to get your hands on one you'll have to be quick.

Note: Internationally you may be able to purchase this online at http://www.soundsnz.com/

Blindspott is re-releasing their album, which will include a bonus CD. This will include remixes by DLT, The Dubious Brothers and Che Fu. Also added to it is behind the scenes footage from their tour, the brand new re-recorded international 'Nil By Mouth' video and a Free Blindspott wallet with chain, Blindspott belt or Blindspott cap to choose from.

The Blindspott website should be up mid next week at http://www.blindspott.com/. You will be able to buy merchandise online and receive all the latest info and pics.

Blindspott's album has been released in Australia and they are receiving airplay on Triple J and Triple M.

Blindspott- new singlePosted: Sun Jan 19, 2003 8:53 pmkeep a look out for blindspott's rockin! new single FALL DOWN
off their amazing debut album for those who do not have it go out and buy it! you will not be disapointed! and a video clip will shortly follow so tune your radio station to CHANNEL Z or the rock and keep your ears open for FALL DOWN.

postponed blindspott tour datesPosted: Wed Dec 11, 2002 1:26 pmBlindspott has postponed the rest of their tour because their tour manager has to sort out a few things if you bought tickets to any of the postponed gigs you can get a refund on your ticket and ticketek.however blindspott will still be playing on new years eve at paihia and bigdayout2003 and in hamilton in early 2003 call ticketek for more information on (09) 307 5000 or visit www.ticketek.co.nz

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